Retro Build - I could use some help or advice

[netscape_navigator]

I would like to build a retro gaming PC and start a humble little big box game collection based on my favorite childhood games. And NO I do not want to run a VM!!! I want an authentic late 90's gaming machine with a gigantic CRT monitor shooting cancer rays through my skull!

The mission: build a system using original sealed/new components (PSU is an exception due to hardware safety concerns) that were released no later than 1999! Why pre 2000? Because we all know the world will end thanks to Y2K dude! I heard it on Art Bell!

I messed around with computers when I was a kid, but half the time I had NO IDEA what I was doing. But I've built a handful of systems in recent years. After doing some research for a few hours I think I have a semi-complete parts list based on old games to be played, part prices and availability. Please feel free to enlighten me on any illogical choices, advice or tips:


-OS: Windows 98SE
-Case/PSU: GAUSS SM307M (250w PSU included)
-Mobo: Intel SE440BX-2
-Processor: Slot 1 Pentium III @ 733MHz with 133MHz Bus
-RAM: PNY 256MB PC100/133 (4 stick available)
-Video Card: ATI Rage 128PRO 32MB (PCI)
-Sound Card: SoundBlaster 16 PCI (CT4810)
-HDD: Maxtor 15GB 7200RPM (51536H3)
-Optical: Creative Blaster 52x (MK4108)
-Monitor: Sony Trinitron CRT (used)
-KB/Mouse: Generic Microsoft
-Speakers: IBM (used)



The games list thus far:

⦁ C&C + expansions:
⦁ C&C Red Alert + expansions:
⦁ C&C Red Alert 2 + expansions:
⦁ Total Annihilation + expansions:
⦁ Doom(I-II):
⦁ Shadow Warrior:
⦁ Blood:
⦁ StarCraft + expansions:
⦁ Myst:
⦁ Riven:
⦁ Thief:
⦁ Blade Runner:
⦁ Carmageddon:
⦁ Civ III:
⦁ Descent:
⦁ Duke Nukem:
⦁ Age of Empires II:
⦁ Mech Warrior 2 + expansions:
⦁ jazz jackrabbit 2:
⦁ Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis:
⦁ Red Baron II:
⦁ Torin's Passage:
⦁ Police Quest Swat:
⦁ Need for Speed III:

 

[hellraiser06]

Wow, that system looks awesome. As for your PSU questions, I would go for a new one from Seasonic, EVGA etc. Reason: They are definitely safer and more reliable. And, in a retro PC, PSU would not make a difference in compatibility. Get the cheapest 80+bronze from any reputable manufacturer. And these days, the PSUs normally come at a minimum of 450W which should be ample for this system. Even if there are any lower wattage PSUs, their cost would not be much lower most probably, so why bother.

BTW, what is the total cost of this awesome awesome system?

 

[netscape_navigator]

hey hellraiser, I'm estimating around 300 for the system build (avoiding used parts).

I did just pick up Red Alert, Starcraft, Total Annihilation and 1 expansion for each. I lucked out and got them all from one collector on ebay. I think I might have been slightly late to the party though and missed out on the other expansions packs... oh well, off to a good start. They are complete big boxes with all original contents...pretty cheap too.

 

[hellraiser06]

Just awesome awesome man. I wish I could say awesome one more time. Oh, look, I did. Enjoy your build and the games and please know that I am going to be jealous of this situation.

 

[netscape_navigator]

Just awesome awesome man. I wish I could say awesome one more time. Oh, look, I did. Enjoy your build and the games and please know that I am going to be jealous of this situation.

I updated my part list with more details. Most importantly I included the EVGA 450 B1. Power connections are one thing I'm having a hard time remembering from the 90s... I just want to check that this power supply will provide me with enough connections/connection types to do this build. Thanks for any help.

I might pull the trigger on everything except psu, case and monitor...getting nervous watching my ebay finds...

Oh and I bought 6 big box games recently. Can't wait for that sweet RTS action!

 

[hellraiser06]

I think the old IDE drives are connected to the motherboard by that ribbon like cable. Power, I am not very sure, but I think I remember Molex was used in my first build around 2004 when I moved my old IDE drive from the old Compaq system. This link may have info that you are looking for:
http://www.osnews.com/story/25660/How_to_Integrate_SATA_and_IDE_Drives

If the power comes from Molex, then you are covered.

 

[Carnaxus]

Most computers in the late '90s conformed to ATX standard; hard drives and CD drives were IDE, floppy drives had their own cable whose name escapes me.

You said you're planning on going with 98SE? Just in case you didn't know, that supports up to 1GB RAM if you can find it.

 

[netscape_navigator]

Hey guys. I just completed my build. Intake, psu and cpu fans all fire up, cd drive lights up. But I don't get any display and I get this beep code: 1-4-3-3

Interestingly the manual that came with the mobo (new/sealed) only lists 2 beep codes! However this link is the complete documentation with many beep codes (page 61). http://hamblen.ece.gatech.edu/489X/mbdman/Prod_Guide.pdf

But you will not see a 1-4-3-3 beep code...

I did find this thread, only 1 year old. http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3141157/intel-se440bx-beep-codes.html It looks like another guy had the same issue. Maybe I can message him or necro his thread. He mentions the beep code means "Autosize the cache" which I am assuming he found here: http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/phoenixbeep.htm

I also briefly updated my parts list above ^^^

 

[Carnaxus]

Are you 100% sure that Win98SE supports PCI video cards? It may be looking only at the AGP slot, if it even has one.

 

[netscape_navigator]

Are you 100% sure that Win98SE supports PCI video cards? It may be looking only at the AGP slot, if it even has one.

Hey, the build is already underway, but it looks like I need a slower cpu with a 100FSB. Of course Win98SE supports PCI. My mobo has 1 AGP slot as well. I found a great deal on the ATI Rages, which were PCI, I'm not too concerned about the whole AGP vs. PCI performance difference for this build really.

 

[Carnaxus]

I know it supports PCI, but it may not be able to understand specifically a video card in a PCI slot. Hopefully the slower CPU fixes your issue though.

 

[netscape_navigator]

I know it supports PCI, but it may not be able to understand specifically a video card in a PCI slot. Hopefully the slower CPU fixes your issue though.

Upon reading the manual a second time something caught my eye... In the Video Config Menu (BIOS options) The "Default Primary Video Adapter" is set to AGP. You can select PCI but if I have no display I can't really do that lol... so I suppose I need an AGP card in order to see the BIOS options thus enabling me to use PCI or AGP.

Should I just pull the trigger on a AGP video card or is there a way to load BIOS options via floppy? (ie editing a file on my modern system, putting it on a floppy, then doing the Boot/BIOS recovery procedure via floppy on my Retro build???)

A Pentium II 400MHz 100Mhz FSB is on the way, along with some different, older RAM just in case of compatibility issues...

 

[Carnaxus]

Hmm..."Default primary video adapter" makes it sound like it should fall back to PCI if it doesn't find anything in the AGP slot. Then again, with older hardware, who knows?

I'm sure you could find a super cheap, super basic AGP card; that way your AMD card wouldn't be a wasted purchase.